Life, 1915-05-06 · page 44 of 56
Life — May 6, 1915 — page 44: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical comic depicts a debate over who "killed Josephus." The figures represent different social forces claiming responsibility: the Officer (military/authority), Piety (religious hypocrisy), and Grape Juice (Prohibition/temperance movement). The joke targets early 20th-century American reform movements. Each character boasts of destructive influence—the military's brutality, organized religion's moralizing oppression, and the temperance movement's intrusiveness—all claiming they "killed" something (likely American freedom or individualism, symbolized by the doomed Josephus). "Public Opinion" laughs at the irony: these forces blame each other while collectively destroying what they claim to protect. The cartoon satirizes how various establishment institutions, despite their different agendas, all contribute to restricting personal liberty—and none will accept responsibility for the damage. The surrounding advertisements for vacation destinations and remedies provide ironic contrast to this darker social commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“LIFE: ew England The Vacation Land Vacation Books Essential to your wise summer planning. The practical to make the b arrangements, i derful Containing i ae) OGDEN small inns in won Rotele inne, lists of summer THE FOUNDLING , | 4 places, quaint fishing vil- arding houses and ttle i colonies, over 1000 place: 5 ages, litte island 4 RATES, capacity’ time. Twas I who put the quietus on beautiful camps. " and other useful information. s ” P . : Josephus. Believe me! Nowhere else in America de Kew Haaptie Maryan, the Matoe “T killed him,” said the Seaman, Jou et fhe teasorsuch beauty | onin.,°yustte, Mile “Cape ‘Cont “though a slave, not a free man. I sent of shore, woods and sky, OF By eee Josephus to Davy Jones, I broke him.” uch glorious outdoor lifes Then the bells tolled and the papers Send for Booklet A- screeched, while dear old Public Opin- '¥ Penobscot Bay, Me, De: jon laughed to herself, as she said “As if it were not I!” | | a Maine Coast The vacation of your heart’s desire is down in B this wonderful sea country. Brilliant summer resorts with their superb hotels; facts you need Ey est vacation ee Send fc rebied for Booklet B— state The White Mountains Bes of New Hampshire Alphabetical tere Vacation pleasures under unique ILLIS: Won't you dine with me? “ne and delightful conditions. Gittis: Thank you, I just dined. > I was home and had my regular meal Motoring on wonderful roads of apples, apricots and asparagus. La thousands of feet above the sea. Vines? Tee that a raher odd com: : : — ination ? Golf, tennis, tramping, climbing, Gituis: Well, you see, my wife went =— to a domestic science school and had to leave after the first week. riding, up near the clouds. Scenic beauty unrivalled in Eastern America. Social life of the highest and most interest- ing type. Magnificent hotels, splendid boarding houses. e Send for Booklet C. ca For booklets and Information address i of Vacation Bureau yer [4 _— y ‘ pl 171 Broadway Room 117. New : no to pl xX m ir Bi 6 1. We ., M.D. Wien: 1 Wellee, CBs EP (Josephus was a dead onc, and all Bane busesasd wi one volume: the acroplanes, submarines and battle- ) TiscclvGdla Ans oweeont i hy ships gathered to celebrate.) toaty from iyipephew— ‘ s HO killed Josephus? “1, said the Officer, “I did it Old Overholt Rye | a “Same for 100 yean”™ th with my navy caste. He tried to in- troduce the tin p into the mess-room, Has gladdened the hearts “Don U.S., Canada and British Patents, Btope Snoring and Mouth Breathing. Money Re- funded if it Don't. Keeps the nostrils open for normal breathing by reinforcing the muscles of the nose which re- Jax while asleep. Made of Rolled Gold. So comfortable isunconsciousof its presence. Sentunder plain cover. ‘Ask for Book—"Correct Breathing.” ‘THOS. B. MORTON CO., (Inc.) 718 Starks Bldg., Louisville, Ky.,U.S.A. the we: and we wouldn't stand for it. I did it—I killed Josephus.” “’Twas I,” said old Piety, “ with my maudlin sentimentality and my pas- sionate and uncontrollable desire to force my own ideas down everybody's throat—I killed Josephus.” “TI did it,” said Grape Juice. “I'd kill anything, I would, if you give me of its recipients for over a century and is still the prime favorite among those who rel- ish a pure, strengthening rye. Always uniform in purity and quality. Aged in the wood, bottled in bond, A. Overholt & Co., Pittsburgh,Pa. comicbooks.com